Duterte meets with OPAPP officials, GRP peace panel

President Rodrigo Duterte has met with Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza and Labor and government peace panel chairperson Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

On Thursday night, Malacañang released the photos of the meeting held at the Malago Clubhouse in the Presidential Security Group Compound.

In one of the photos, Duterte made the peace sign along with the OPAPP and GRP peace panel members and consultants.

Pres. Duterte had a meeting with OPAPP officials and GRP peace panel members, consultants, advisers on Thursday. ????: Palace pic.twitter.com/VtPWom0Y2A

— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) October 20, 2017

Asked about the details about their meeting, Dureza told GMA News Online on Friday: “Sorry we cannot yet release any info.”

Aside from Dureza and Bello, Dureza, OPAPP assistant secretaries Dickson Hermoso and Yeshter Baccay as well as GRP-Peace Panel chair members Rene Sarmiento, Angela Trinidad, Antonio Arellano, advisers Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, and Technical Committee members Brigadier General Raniel Ramiro and Chief Superintendent Francisco Balagtas.

Malacañang has not released any statement on the matter. Bello has also not yet responded to request for comment.

Duterte in a speech at the 43rd Philippine Business Conference And Expo Concluding Ceremony Thursday night said he needed to “deal” with the Communist Party of the Philippines and the attacks of the New People’s Army against soldiers and policemen.

“I would try to talk to the enemies of the state if I can and strike a deal with the so many fronts. Then I would be referring to the Communist Party of the Philippines and the rebel, rebellion that they have so far, almost 50 years in the making. And I thought that it would be time to stop it or we fight for another 50 years,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News